Rock Climbing Styles

Post by **Don McGlone** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:29 pm

Finally, an article that clears up all the confussion about the different aspects of our beloved sport. Taken from AskMen.com:

Rock Climbing Styles

Full-safety climbing: This is a lot like climbing a wall at the gym. You climb using existing grips while someone on the ground pulls on your rope to make it easier for you.

Bouldering: This method consists of climbing small boulders without any equipment. Basically, it's like hiking with some obstacles thrown in.

Free climbing: With this most common style of climbing, the equipment you use is for safety only -- not to facilitate the process. This is the method you see in movies.

Aid climbing: When the face of the mountain doesn't offer any more grips and holds, some experienced climbers pull out suction cups and similar tools to climb up. This is a very dangerous method.

Soloing: Definitely the most hazardous climbing style, soloing consists of climbing an entire wall or mountain with absolutely no safety equipment. Many of the best climbers don't even do it.

Belaying: This is not really a style but rather a technique that can be used in both free climbing and aid climbing. Two climbers hook up a rope between them and climb in succession, anchoring the cable along the way. This keeps you from falling all the way to the ground.

More important info to be found at:

http://www.askmen.com/fashion/how_to_20 ... ow_to.html

Post by **SikMonkey** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:36 pm

Yeah, that's a dandy alright. I am glad they set me straight. Apparently I had it ALL wrong.

Mj

Post by **diggum** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:48 pm

I'm gonna print that out & keep it in my pack. Better to be safe than sorry.

Can we write to them & thank them for such useful & accurate information?

Post by **dhoyne** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:51 pm

There's a great flame session going on at rockclimbing.com about this... there are some really funny comments...

Post by **ReachHigh** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:51 pm

Where do I order aid climbing suction cups from?

Post by **diggum** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:54 pm

For those who don't want to hunt for it:
http://www.rockclimbing.com/topic/86292

Post by **merrick** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:22 pm

i have actually run into articles like that before.

one of my favorites was a list of the best crags in a NY fashion zine. It listed the grand teton among others.

what gives journalists the idea that they can just make stuff up about things they don't know about?

it is pretty amusing though.

Post by **busty** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:42 pm

There was a funny post on rockclimbing.com that said the "shoes" link takes you to a ite selling reeboks, etc.

Post by **mcrib** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:38 am

my fucking god! What did it say about 5 million readers? Nothing good can come of this.

Post by **longlegsrule** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:37 pm

so how many people wrote an email to Mr. GQ?

(

did you see that pic of him?)